Ariel Leader
Revision as of 15:25, 2 July 2010 by Budlight (talk | contribs) (New page: ==Leader== right|thumb|250px|1964 Ariel Leader left|thumb|250px|1963 Ariel Arrow Super Sports The '''Leader''' w...)
Leader
The Leader was probably Ariel's bravest foray into motorcycle manufacturing. It was an innovate, fully enclosed 250cc two-stroke released in 1959. Producing peak output of 18bhp, with the twin-cylinder engine based on that of the German Adler. The leader was intended to be a proper motorcycle with the convenience of a scooter. The Leader actually worked rather well, with a top speed of about 70mph (112kph) and excellent handling. But the public didn't take well to it. Ariel later striped the bodywork to produce the Arrow, with a tuned 20bhp engine in the Super Sports and Golden Arrow variants. Although the Arrow sold well it wasn't enough to stop Ariel from going under in 1967.